Improving care for people with serious mental illness and Alzheimer's in nursing homes
Official title: Addressing Disparities in Nursing Homes for People with Serious Mental Illness and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11073194 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at the challenges faced by adults with serious mental illness and Alzheimer's or related dementias living in nursing homes, especially focusing on how these issues affect people of color, and aims to find ways to improve their care and support.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $680,931 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG084659-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11073194 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adults with serious mental illness, particularly those who also have Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, especially from BIPOC communities.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without serious mental illness or Alzheimer's disease and related dementias may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the challenges faced by adults with serious mental illness (SMI) and Alzheimer's disease or related dementias (AD/ADRD) in nursing homes. It aims to understand the prevalence of these conditions among residents, particularly focusing on disparities affecting Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). The study will assess the quality of care provided to these vulnerable populations and identify organizational factors that can be modified to improve outcomes. By gathering this evidence, the research seeks to enhance the quality of care in nursing homes for individuals with these complex health needs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved care and better health outcomes for patients with serious mental illness and Alzheimer's disease in nursing homes.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been some research on care disparities in nursing homes, this specific focus on SMI and AD/ADRD among BIPOC populations is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shippee, Tetyana P. — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Shippee, Tetyana P.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how brain activity changes may drive Alzheimer’s disease progression in a mouse model
Researchers are testing how changes in brain signals and protein cleanup processes affect the development of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.
-
Thiamine-boosting therapy for Alzheimer’s: understanding how benfotiamine may reduce harmful AGE in DP patients
A medication-based approach using high-dose vitamin B1 (benfotiamine) is studied to help people with Alzheimer's by reducing harmful sugar-related molecules.
-
Non-invasive tears biomarker for early Alzheimer's in LMICs
A low-cost, tear-based biomarker approach aims to detect early Alzheimer’s disease in older adults in Peru and similar settings.
-
Turning APOE4 into protective APOE2 or APOE3Christchurch to help with Alzheimer’s
A patient-facing explanation of a treatment idea that aims to change a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease in the brain.
-
Telomerase in Alzheimer’s Disease: how aging biology could influence memory and brain health
Researchers are exploring a new brain-aging mechanism linked to telomerase, with potential to slow or modify Alzheimer’s disease in people and improve cognitive function.
-
Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease: Sensory, Motor, and Cognitive Clues
Researchers are testing simple sensory and movement tasks to find early signs of Alzheimer’s disease so they can diagnose and treat people sooner.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.